The 31 sites are: Canna and Sanday; Marwick Head; North and Western Cliffs; Rum; St Abbs to Fast Castle; ; Buchan Ness to Collieston; Calf of ; ; ; East Cliffs; ; ; Forth Islands; Flannan Isles; ; ; Handa; Hermaness, Saxa Vord and Valla Field; ; Mingulay and Berneray; North Caithness Cliffs; and ; Noss; ; Shiant Isles; St Kilda; Sule Skerry and ; ; Troup, Pennan and Lion's Heads; and West .

NEWSLETTER 112

October 2009

CONSERVATION NEWS

INCREASED PROTECTION FOR ’S SEABIRDS Common guillemot- one of the seabirds which will benefit from increased protection at sea Scotland’s seabirds are to benefit from by Ben Dean strengthened protection, after Scottish For more information, see Government announced that 31 of Scotland’s http://www.snh.org.uk/about/directives/ab- seabird breeding colony Special Protection dir15j.asp Areas (SPAs) are to be extended to protect their adjacent marine habitats. The extensions which Linda Wilson. Marine SPA team, JNCC came into force on 25 September 2009, will go Email: [email protected] out to 1, 2 or 4km, depending on which species are protected within the existing terrestrial SPA.

These are the first marine SPAs in Scotland, and there is currently only one other wholly marine CONTENTS Page SPA in the UK (Carmarthen Bay in Wales, CONSERVATION NEWS………………………….1 designated for its internationally important RESEARCH NEWS………………………………….3 numbers of common scoter). 2009 UK BREEDING SEASON NEWS………..4 2009 IRISH BREEDING SEASON NEWS..…15 The announcement follows a consultation on the SEABIRDING TRIPS………………………….....18 SPA extensions, carried out on behalf of SEABIRD GROUP GRANT REPORT…………20 Scottish Government by SNH in summer 2008, JOB VACANCIES………………………………….21 which recommended the extensions based on FOR SALE……………………………………………22 work carried out by JNCC’s Marine SPA team. CONFERENCE NEWS…………………………….22 The seabirds for which the SPAs are classified, CORRECTION………………………………………23 will benefit from protection against activities SEABIRD GROUP NEWS………………………..23 that would cause significant disturbance and will safeguard their marine habitat. 1

MARINE BILL PROGRESS As a result, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the World Summit on The Marine and Coastal Access Bill has Sustainable Development set a target to establish completed its progress through the House of a globally representative network of Marine Lords It was introduced to the House of Protected Areas (MPAs) by 2012. However, the Commons on 9 June and had its Second Reading IUCN estimates that unless progress is on 23 June. The remaining stages, working accelerated, this goal will not be met until 2060 - towards Royal Assent, will be completed in the half a century late. Autumn 3009 but no dates have been announced yet. The Bill covers a number of key areas of Adapted from interest, which are as follows: http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/07/mar ine_iba_guidelines.html • Marine Management Organisation • Marine Planning • Marine Licensing FIJI LOCATED AT SEA

• Marine Nature Conservation An expedition to find the Critically Endangered • Fisheries Management and Marine Fiji Petrel Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi at sea Enforcement has been successful. Up to eight individuals • Environmental Data and Information were seen over eleven days in an area around 25 • Migratory and Freshwater Fisheries nautical miles south of Gau. The species’ flight, • Coastal Access behaviour and detailed comparison to other • Coastal and Estuary Management species are also described for the first time.

A series of maps have been created to help Known from just one specimen collected in explain how the Bill will apply to different 1855 on Gau Island, Fiji, the Fiji Petrel was lost regions of the seas around the UK. for the next 130 years. Since 1984 there have been a handful of reports of “grounded” Adapted from that had crashed onto village roofs on Gau. Until http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/marine/le now there had been no confirmed sightings of gislation/index.htm the seabird at sea.

MARINE IMPORTANT AREAS Finding Fiji Petrel at sea was no accident, combining meticulous planning over the timing BirdLife has taken a major step towards the of the survey and luring the seabirds with frozen identification of Marine Important Bird Areas chum. Frozen chum blocks persist for up to one- (mIBAs) for seabirds around the world. and-a-half hours, creating a pungent and Guidelines have been now agreed which can be constant oil slick, which attracts from used to track seabirds and analyse the data to some miles away. identify Marine IBAs for any seabird species. BirdLife recently organised a series of The expedition also gathered valuable workshops, which were attended by 50 seabird distributional information on many other seabird tracking experts from around the world. species, including the Endangered Phoenix Workshop delegates compared the merits of Petrel (Pterodroma alba) and the Vulnerable different methods used to study the movements Gould’s (Pterodroma leucoptera) and of seabirds, and tested the best ways of Parkinson’s Petrels (Procellaria parkinsoni.) analysing the datasets gained from such studies. More surveys to locate the breeding area of Fiji Petrel are planned for 2010, which will be The world’s oceans are seriously under- critical in ensuring the conservation of this protected. Just 0.65% of the global ocean is species. within protected area systems, and most of that is within the first miles of the shore. Moreover Adapted from: seabirds have deteriorated in IUCN Red List http://www.birdlife.org/news/pr/2009/09/fiji_pet status faster than any other group of bird species rel_discovery.html 2

RESEARCH NEWS OLDEST PUFFIN IN THE UK FOUND

The Shiants Ringing Group’s expedition to RENEWABLES AND NEW the Shiant Isles this summer first broke the METHODOLOGIES FOR SEABIRD British longevity record for Puffin on 5 July MONITORING AND IMPACT 2009 when they caught EH37060 in the Puffin ASSESSMENTS colony on the north-slope of Rough Island (Garbh Eilean). Ian Buxton, a member of this COWRIE (Collaborative Offshore Wind year’s team, originally ringed it in this colony on Research Into The Environment) is pleased to 27 June 1977 so he was reunited with the same announce the release of two reports prepared by bird 32 years later (see photo!). It is now BTO (British Trust for Ornithology). carrying a new ring, EX08155.

The first report commissioned by COWRIE But this record was topped just five days later on produced a set of protocols for the use of High 10 July, when the team caught EB73152, definition imagery for surveying sea birds and originally ringed in the same colony on 28 June marine mammals (Thaxter and Burton 2009). 1975 and therefore making it over 34 years old Previously, visual techniques used for surveying (older than three of this year’s expedition seabirds and marine mammals were ship-based, members). This is now the oldest recorded conventional aerial surveys, and to a lesser Puffin in the UK. Not only did it still have its extent shore-based counts of birds. The aim of original metal ring, but also its blue/black/blue this report was to review trials of high definition plastic colour ring, allowing it to be identified as imagery technology in the monitoring and a Shiants bird ‘in the field’. Both these birds assessment of the numbers of sea birds and had been ringed as adults so their real ages marine mammals at offshore sites, and produce would be at least two to three years older. recommendations and protocols on its use alongside existing survey methodology, notably in light of its possible use in surveying round 3 wind farm development zones. To this end, a workshop was organized to bring together key users, developers and regulators of the industry

The second report reviewed assessment methodologies and provided further recommendations for carrying out ornithological impact assessments (Maclean et al. 2009). COWRIE had already previously published guidelines for ship and aerial survey of marine birds for offshore windfarm assessments. The purposes of this review were fourfold: (1). to assess the extent to which these recommendations have been followed; (2). to identify any differences in interpretation of the guidance between sites; (3). to test the practicalities of using high definition cameras during aerial surveys; (4). to provide more rigorous guidelines for the type of analytical techniques that should be used.

Copies of both reports can be downloaded from: http://www.offshorewindfarms.co.uk/Pages/Publ Ian Buxton and Puffin EB73152 together again! ications/Latest_Reports/Birds/ by David Stevenson

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At the time it was thought that this 34 year old Group started the ringing program in 1970, had set a new European longevity record, when counting the Shiants for Operation beating an Icelandic bird, ring number Iceland Seafarer, and have since accumulated a total of 419571 controlled at 33 years and 10 months over 11,000 adult Puffins ringed in this colony. after ringing and published on the EURING web site under the list of longevity records For further information contact: (www.euring.org/data_and_codes/longevity- [email protected] or voous.htm). The Icelanders disputed our claim [email protected] . to have the new European record, now claiming a 38 year old (not listed on the EURING site), Further information on ringing can also be found but the Norwegians have trumped them. The on http://www.bto.org/ringing/ Norwegians have a published record of a bird at almost 41 years old, ringed as a fledgling with ring number Norway 56705 on 8 August 1976 and found very recently killed by a Raven or 2009 UK BREEDING large falcon on 9 May 2008 just a few metres SEASON NEWS from its natal site on Rost off the west coast of Norway (www.seapop.no/no/files/short- reports/SEAPOP_Short_Report_5- 2009_optimized.pdf). After a series of very poor breeding seasons for seabirds on the Isle of May NNR, it was David Steventon, founder of the Shiants Auk especially pleasing to see species doing Ringing Group, and a member of the original markedly better in 2009, and overall the season expeditions in the 1970s commented: “These was the most successful in recent years. longevity records were almost inevitable, as ringing data shows that adult survival rates are Return rates of colour-ringed adults were about 92%. Therefore, we would expect that markedly high compared to the last two years about 25 of the 441 birds ringed in 1975 will with only kittiwake remaining below the long still be alive and could be re-caught in 2009. term average. Razorbills had their highest ever There could even be a handful remaining alive return rate at 97%, while values for puffin from those ringed back to 1970, so there is the (85%) and shag (90%) were the highest potential to break the record again in the next recorded since 2003. A partial census of puffin few years. Compared to recent years, the burrows suggested that there had been no further Puffins are having a good breeding season this decrease in the population, following the year, bringing in good sized sand eels for their dramatic decline from 69,000 to 41,000 young.” occupied burrows that occurred between 2003 and 2008. The Puffin colony being studied on the north of Rough Island is a grassy slope approximately 100 metres from top to bottom and approximately 80 metres at its widest on the grass section. The colony merges into a scree of large boulders of hexagonal columnar basalt to the west, that also contains Puffin burrows but that is much less practical to study. Mike Harris marked out a transect on the grassy slope in 1973 for the purposes of counting occupied and unoccupied brows. This transect was counted almost annually up to and including 1989 but the markers have long since disappeared. Best estimate of the number of breeding pairs based Shags had a record year for productivity on the May in 2009 on extrapolating the occupied burrow count by Mark Newall from the transect area to the total area is of the order of 6,000 pairs. The Shiants Auk Ringing 4

The only species to have below average successfully on the island in 2002 and have breeding success was razorbill at 0.61 chicks continued to grow in numbers. However, they fledged per pair (long term mean 0.66). are still a long way off the huge numbers once Fulmars were slightly above average with a seen there in the late 19th century, who Robert productivity of 0.44. Puffins laid early and had Gray once described as, “so great as to cause a a successful season with 0.72 chicks fledging bewildering darkness”. per pair, the highest since 2003. Kittiwakes were slightly later than last year, but with During the rat ‘occupation’ of Ailsa, other breeding success at 0.7 chicks per completed species of bird such as Wheatear, Shelduck, nest they too had the most successful season Black guillemot, Manx shearwater and Storm since 2003. Guillemots were early compared to Petrel also disappeared from the island. recent years and had the highest breeding Thankfully, wheatear, black guillemot and success since 1997 (0.75 chicks fledged per shelduck have returned to breed on the island pair). Shags had their most successful season since the rats’ demise. However, the question on record with a productivity of 2.0 chicks per over whether manx shearwater and storm petrel pair, eclipsing the previous record set last year. are once again breeding on Ailsa Craig is still unanswered. The breeding status of these two In terms of diet, the most striking aspect of 2009 species was one of the main goals of two, three- was the size of sandeels brought into the colony. four day trips, which took place in June and July Puffin chick diet comprised 91% sandeels, with this year. Ailsa Craig has been a RSPB reserve the mean load weight the second highest on for the last five years, and this year was visited record and the length of substantially longer on four separate occasions to undertake seabird than during the last decade. Razorbill chick survey and monitoring. diet was almost entirely sandeels. Whilst guillemot chicks were fed mainly on sprats (67%), the proportion of sandeels (28%) was the highest for nine years. Kittiwake chicks were predominantly fed sandeels while rockling were much less in evidence in their diet compared to recent years. Shags chicks were fed a variety of prey items, while extremely few snake pipefish were eaten by any of the species studied.

For more information on the Isle of May study look up the website: www.ceh.ac.uk/sci_programmes/IsleofMayLong -TermStudy.

Mark Newell, Mike Harris, Sarah Wanless, Liz Surveyors Yvonne Boles, Chris Rodger and Gus Mackley and Francis Daunt Keys taking a well deserved break in between Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Edinburgh. surveying e-mail: [email protected] Gannet

AILSA CRAIG No counts undertaken this year but by all accounts the colony is likely to still be Ailsa Craig is an instantly recognisable and expanding beyond the 32,000 AOS Seabird iconic island in the . For many 2000 figure. The last aerial survey (2004) was years it was plagued by rats, until in 1991, after undertaken quite early in the season (June) and intensive baiting and monitoring, the island was recorded just over 27,000 AOS. The colony declared free from these rodents, which had such continues to slowly reach above the cliffs onto a devastating impact on ground and burrow the slopes, most notably in the southwest of the nesting birds and other wildlife. After almost a island. It is hoped to undertake aerial counts of 70-year absence, puffins returned to nest the whole colony next year. 5

Puffin Guillemot

Poor weather in May hampered a dedicated Logistically it was just not possible to undertake puffin count, but a brief count of birds on shore 3-5 counts of the whole colony in June to give during a quick sail past the colony on a boat an accurate figure of individuals. Therefore, from Arran was possible later on. One of the one-day trip was undertaken with counters, main overnight trips in early June recorded at scribers and photographers to count on 1st least 30 AOB in use, with a further 25 likely July. A total of 11,668 individual guillemots AOB. The colony seems to be slowly spreading were on the cliffs. However, with just one count south along the cliff slopes and to the north, in early July, this figure may well be an close to the north foghorn. A rough estimate of overestimate of the breeding population. colony size is c.55 AOB. Razorbill Black guillemot As above, just a single count. This revealed a Perfect conditions in late April on a beautiful, total of 1030 individual razorbills on the cliffs. but early, sail from Girvan counted 132 Many razorbills were found nesting under rocks individuals, the majority of which were on below the main cliffs close to the shore. These shore. This was a surprisingly high figure, tended to be in amongst shag nests and close to considering the re-colonising Tystie breeding puffin burrows. population was thought to be around 30 pairs. After speaking to Bernie Zonfrillo, he pointed Fulmar out that many black guillemots from the mainland journey to Ailsa to feed on the rich Very low numbers of fulmar this year, most supply of butterfish around the island. Whatever nests found thinly spread around the island, the explanation, it seems likely that Tysties are making it hard work to pick them out amongst doing well once more on the Craig. other species. Only 174 AOS were found.

Kittiwake Shag

Since Seabird 2000 kittiwake numbers have Most nests were found on the west and notably decreased, mirroring what is happening southwest of the island, the vast majority of elsewhere in the country. In 2000, there was a which were found low down amongst rocks and total of 1675 AON recorded. This year only 428 boulders. A total of 96 AON were found. AON were counted, a huge decrease in the last nine years. Later in July, most nests looked to Herring gull have good-sized chicks, so hopefully they have had a reasonable breeding season. The herring gull population has fallen dramatically in recent years. Seabird 2000 survey found 1450 pairs. These proved hard birds to survey, with many simply hanging around and not seeming to be nesting. The only real way to get any real idea of numbers was to count individual birds in early June on the first of the 3-4 day ‘expeditions’. Only 345-450 individual herring gulls were counted this year, showing how much their numbers have fallen in the nine years since Seabird 2000.

Lesser black-backed gull

Gannets are still thought to be increasing in numbers Again, this species was counted in the same on Ailsa Craig way, revealing between 324-400 individual by Gus Keys birds. 6

Great black-backed gull NORTH EAST SCOTLAND

A total of 65-80 individuals were recorded. With The NE Scottish hill Common Gulls have had so few rabbits around these three gull species another bad season and have declined further. may be struggling to find enough food for On 9 May there were only about half the number themselves and their young, which might go at Corsemaul that there were three years ago, some way to explaining their current low and they were spreading out from the original numbers. nucleus, which is now grassy, into the surviving surrounding heather- where there were formerly Manx shearwater 40 nests I only found seven. There were also 4 old and 17 newer dead birds with no obvious Despite much searching and playback around cause of death- apparently botulism is about the suitable looking burrows around the island, no only thing not excluded yet. On 28 June there confirmed evidence of breeding was found. were only a few hundred birds which were Each night we stayed on the island, in early June beginning to flock, and neither live nor dead and mid July, we were treated to the arrival of chicks could be found. Ian Francis reports that calling male and female manx shearwaters there were also only a few hundred birds at the between 11pm –1am. These were most other big colonies at Tom Mor and concentrated to the northeast of the island, with Boultenstone, though some from the latter may birds clearly seen flying through our torch have moved to what seems to be a new colony at beams right at the cliff slopes above us. It seems Gallows Hill. The huge colonies of thousands of highly likely that for a number of years now (as birds that formed in NE Scotland in the 1980s B. Zonfrillo has been witnessing exactly the appear to have collapsed when faced with a run same scene) manx shearwaters have been of bad breeding seasons. Birds breeding on low breeding in small numbers on Ailsa Craig. There ground in a gas pipeline inspection enclosure are many places on the island, which are and on distillery warehouse roofs had chicks. virtually inaccessible to search, and other places David Jenkins reports that Black-headed gulls where they could be easily missed. There is have disappeared from mid Deeside, where there always next year…! were formerly thousands, and they are reduced elsewhere. Storm petrel On 14 May there appeared to be fewer auks at After much searching & tape playback, no Troup Head, but this was not followed up. A contacts were made and as manx shearwater, very rough estimate showed 1650 sites and 350 they could be breeding. An even more difficult club Gannets there on 31 July, when there species to find on such a big island, especially if appeared to be a fair number of young they are only a small number breeding. Kittiwakes.

Acknowledgements W.R.P. Bourne Thanks to the following for all their help on the e-mail: [email protected] Craig this year: Sarah Davis, Andy Schofield, Dave Beaumont, Yvonne Boles, Andy Robinson, Chris Rodger, Zoe Clelland, Neil O’Donnell, Paul Tarling, Paul Coultard, Alison Phillip, Ian Darling, Paul Collin & Catherine Markey. Also, many thanks also go to Bernie Zonfrillo.

Gus Keys RSPB e-mail: [email protected]

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NORTH RONA Arctic Tern. Breeding north, east and south coasts, c20 pairs at each site. The main aim of the vistit to North Rona was to resurvey the entire island for Leach’s and Herring Gull. Very few, not proven to breed. European Storm-petrel, following the methods used in 2001, and any other work had to be Lesser Black backed Gull. 3 pairs, at least 2 incidental to this, since it is time and labour broods of small young. intensive. The most disturbing result was the significant decline in Leach’s Storm-petrel, of Great Black backed Gull. Total breeding 37.1% since 2001. There is some evidence, failure, also numbers have declined since the based on a partial survey of the main colony in 2005 count of 551 pairs. Although a proper the village ruins, made by SNH in 2005, that count was’nt done our estimate is of 3-400 pairs. these losses have occurred since then. European Population probably closer to the min figure. Storm- petrel numbers are unchanged. Black legged Kittiwake. 852 well built nests There have also been major losses of Black found in a whole island count. This is the lowest legged Kittiwake and the slow decline of Great total ever made since the first counts in the Black-backed Gulls continues. However, it 1970s, and there has been a 54% decline since seems to have been a productive season for the 1837 AON counted in 2005. Productivity shags, auks and kittiwakes, with notable brood was very good though. A sample of 70 nests sizes and early fledging. Fish loads seen checked found 9 empty, 36 with B/1 and 25 with throughout our stay were noticeably healthy, B/2. Most young were about 28 days old but 11 predominately Rockling and small sand eels broods were small and downy. being brought in, with no sign of pipefish. Great Skua. 18 AOT, no change since 2005 (or European Storm-petrel. Repeat of the 2001 from 1986 when 14 AOT were found). survey, no change in distribution or numbers between years (intact desiccated corpse found, Shag. Most nests held 2-3 almost fledged ringed Yell, 1984) young, many had fledged just as we arrived. A few nests with week to 2 week old chicks. All Leach’s Storm-petrel. Repeat of the 2001 the usual sites held nests, no attempt to count survey. Decline of 37.1% overall, down from them, but obviously thriving, by contrast with 1133 AOS in 2001 to 713 AOS in 2009 (tail and the last check in 2005. one leg with ring found, ringed Rona village 2005) Puffin. No decline in AOB in 5 transects, increase in one. No losses of small sub-colonies away from main one on the east cliffs of Toa Rona. Essentially no change since the 2001 count of 7000 AOB (leg with ring found, ringed Sule Skerry 1996)

Razorbill. Good numbers, particularly at the main site above Geo Leis. Young being fed rockling.

Guillemot. Not looked at in detail, suspect early fledging. Ledges thinned out by 7/8 July.

Black Guillemot Nests with young found at

usual west coast sites, at least 9 pairs, with Kittiwake- one of the species to have done well in terms of breeding success in 2009 despite declining others along the east coast. numbers over recent years by Claire Lauder Stuart Murray Email: [email protected] 8

SHETLAND which fledged broods of three), the highest since (EXCLUDING FAIR ISLE) 2002, and was 1.36 on , while casual observations suggested a similarly good season We are so used to poor breeding seasons in at other colonies. More nested on Foula than in Shetland that when a good or reasonable one recent years (although still many fewer than comes along it can become a bit over-hyped. before the 2004 crash in numbers there), and Certainly, it was a better season than 2008, some success was c.1.3 fledged per incubated nest. species at some locations experienced their highest productivity for years, and it was a delight to see young tirricks (Arctic Terns) and skooti alins (Arctic Skuas) on the wing. The downside is that numbers of certain species are low, and that productivity from one reasonable breeding season can only make a small contribution towards reversing some long-term population declines.

Red-throated Divers had a patchy year, with August chicks apparently starving to death in some parts of Shetland, and the dry summer causing problems at some locations. On Hermaness, four pairs hatched five young; two starved, one was predated and two fledged, with a similar story elsewhere on Unst. Success from Gales which devastated areas of cliff nesting birds by Martin Heubeck the 20 pairs than nested on Fetlar was 0.50, and

0.83 from the 12 pairs at Lumbister RSPB Great Skuas were notably late appearing in reserve on Yell. On Foula, 11 pairs fledged Shetland this spring. On Foula, 65 young between six and nine chicks, the best season for fledged from 63 monitored territories (success of some time despite low water levels in some 1.44), although there was severe predation pools. (cannibalism) of chicks and fledged young in

parts of the island in early August. Breeding The number of Fulmar apparently occupied success on Mousa was 0.44 from 41 AOTs (the sites increased since 2008 by 6-20% at highest number recorded on the island), 0.51 monitored colonies, bringing the population from 109 AOTs on Noss, 1.02 from 98 AOTs on index for the species back to that of 2003. Fetlar, and 0.96 from 28 AOTs on Hermaness. Breeding success at seven colonies ranged from

0.28 (Hermaness) to 0.49 (Troswick Ness), with On Foula, 22 juvenile Arctic Skuas fledged a mean of 0.43 (s.e. 0.03), relatively high for from 63 monitored territories (although three recent years. were subsequently predated), the highest success

(0.35) for many years. It was a similar story Gannet productivity at Hermaness was 0.65, elsewhere, with success of 0.88 on Mousa (eight higher than in 2008 (0.56) and similar to the AOTs), 1.50 on Noss (two AOTs), 0.29 on long-term average. Fetlar (seven AOTs in three plots), and 1.00 at

Hermaness (two AOTs). For those of us with Southwesterly gales on 2nd and 7th May washed even moderately long memories, the number of out many Shag nests on west-facing coasts, pairs on these reserves remains desperately low. although most pairs probably rebuilt and relaid.

Surveys in June located 1,762 nests, 18% more Surveys of 34 Kittiwake breeding stations than most recent counts for the same stretches of recorded a total of 2,327 nests, remarkably coast, and it was noticed that most nests on east similar to the previous most recent total of coasts held large young and most on west coasts 2,335, but there was much variation in changes held either eggs or small young. Breeding in numbers, with some colonies having doubled success at Sumburgh Head was 1.56 young in size in two years and others finally being fledged from 185 egg-laying pairs (24% of 9 abandoned. A survey of Foula on 24th June 45,777 in 2001), and Hermaness (6,896 in 2009, located 509 AONs, half that recorded in 2007 c.f. 5,869 in 2004 but 10,439 in 2000) indicate (997) but a marked improvement on 2008 (4 that numbers attending major colonies have AONs) when the population there simply didn’t roughly halved over the past decade. The breed. These counts suggest a Shetland breeding situation at the many smaller colonies is less population in 2009 (including Fair Isle) of clear, but that at Esha Ness is dire. All birds c.6,200 pairs compared to c.20,400 in 1999, and have been counted there since 1976, numbers c.47,800 in 1999. Breeding success at 10 peaked at a mean of 744 in 1981 and were as monitored colonies was highly variable, ranging high as 469 in 2000, but the five 2009 counts from 0.16-1.27 (mean 0.54, s.e. 0.12), reflecting ranged from just 18-70 birds. At Sumburgh predation pressure (largely by Great Skuas) as Head, Guillemot chick diet was 45% sandeels, much as local food availability. On Foula 29% Whiting and 22% Saithe, and breeding success was only 0.33 yet a pair in one plot success (0.63) was markedly higher than in 2008 fledged a brood of three, while success at two (0.28), but chick weights near fledging age, colonies on West Burra only 3 km apart was although c.8% higher than in 2007, remained 0.18 (Kettla Ness) and 1.27 (Ramna Geo). 15-20% less than in the late 1990s.

Arctic Terns had a much better season than in Whole colony counts of Razorbills were 192 at recent years, although (as ever) this varied Sumburgh Head (c.f. 197 in 2008, but 626 in between locations. On Mousa, a minimum of 2001) and 558 on Noss (c.f. 1,022 in 2005), and 925 pairs (probably as high as 1,200) raised an while there was little change since 2008 in absolute minimum of 495 young, while in south counts in study plots, numbers remain low at all Mainland, the Grutness colony held 600 adults monitored colonies compared to 1999-2001. and 345 fledged young on 15th July. Modest Nobody monitors breeding success, but on Foula numbers of chicks were ringed (and fledged) a poor season was thought to have been from other south Mainland colonies although exacerbated by the 7th May storm. some were also found dead. There was a similar story throughout Shetland, e.g. c.150 birds bred Pre-breeding numbers of Black Guillemots on Foula and ‘a few’ managed to fledge young. were higher than most recent 2007/08 counts at 12 of 14 monitored stretches of coast (total of 2,079 adults in 2009, 1,885 in 2007/08, +10.3%), and while breeding success is not monitored reasonable numbers of juveniles were noted on the sea during surveys in August.

Puffin breeding success at Sumburgh Head was estimated at 0.46 fledged per occupied burrow, with the last chicks seen on 20th July. On Foula, birds were noted bringing in small sandeels and other small fish in early July and, perhaps a sign of a better season, no dead chicks were found at burrow entrances.

Martin Heubeck & Mick Mellor (SOTEAG), Mike Mellor surveying on Hols Hellier, Saxavord, Martha Devine, Rob Fray & Malcie Smith Unst (RSPB), jJonathan Swale, Glen Tyler & Alastair by Martin Heubeck Wilson (SNH), Dave Okill (Shetland Ringing

Group), Sheila Gear (Foula Ranger Service). Common Guillemot numbers in monitoring plots were, generally, only slightly higher than e-mail: [email protected] in 2008, while both plot counts, and whole colony counts at Sumburgh Head (7,931 in

2009, c.f. 7,325 in 2008 but 15,327 in 2001),

Noss (22,065 in 2009, c.f. 24,138 in 2005 but

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ALDERNEY/BURHOU, CHANNEL ISLANDS Red-throated Diver On Alderney, newly arrived Gannets circling the Les Etacs colony site but not landing totalled 2009 was a good year for this species. On Hoy, 60 on 18/1 and c. 1,500 on 31/1. Gannets were Jim & Stuart Williams located 62 aos that reared at their nest sites on the gannetry by 9/2. 56 chicks giving a productivity of 0.90. The improvement in occupancy on this island means A maximum of 45 Common Terns was at one that the number of pairs there is approaching Alderney site, feeding chicks until the end of previous levels after the downturn in the early June. A second smaller colony was still active 2000s and the proportion of b/2s continues to on 15/7. Neither colony was inspected at close increase. On Rousay, six pairs reared eight quarters in order to avoid disturbance, so young giving a productivity of 1.33 while on breeding success unknown. West Mainland RSPB Reserves, 18 pairs reared 17 chicks, a productivity of 0.94. Overall A maximum of 114 Guillemots was counted off productivity from all monitored sites was Alderney’s south coast on 7/5, these being 67 on therefore 0.94. the sea and 57 on breeding ledges. This total is above average of recent years. Fulmar

Alderney’s once substantial Puffin population, Monitoring by JNCC of plots in five Mainland now confined to one small inshore islet, colonies indicated that the declines noted comprised just two individuals from 17/4, between 2000 and 2006 have levelled off. increasing to a maximum of five on 24/6. Last Changes between 2006 and 2009 varied between seen on 14/7, five individuals. One bird was +13% and –9% but none were significant. At seen to enter a burrow on several occasions in the three sites monitored for breeding success, early June. Situated 235 km south-west of the however, productivity was rather poor at just more widely known Lundy Island Puffins and 0.36 (n = 727). conservation project, this similar remnant colony has also had problems with rats. Rodent bait At the famous colony on , monitored stations have been maintained on the islet and by Aberdeen University since the mid 1950s, close by it. However, Great Black-backed and there were 89 aos on 1st June plus five other Lesser Black-backed Gulls again nested a few recently failed sites. This was the highest metres from the Puffin burrow area. occupancy rate since 2003. However, productivity was low at just 0.24, some At Burhou, which has the most southerly Puffin predation of large chicks by Hooded Crows colony of any size in the eastern Atlantic, apart being suspected. from Les Sept Isles in Brittany, a maximum of 228 rafting Puffins was counted close to the On the North Hill RSPB reserve on Papa main sub-colony on 15/7. This is about average Westray, there were 132 aos (only 75 in 2008) for the past few years. As in previous years, the and 66 young were reared, a productivity of 0.50 Puffin burrow area was also a Lesser Blacked- while on Rousay 66 aos in monitoring plots on back and Herring Gull club area. the west coast produced 52 fledged chicks, productivity 0.79. On a trial basis, Lesser-black Backed Gulls were followed by boat at high speed from the On Hoy, productivity was especially poor, 86 substantial Burhou colony to their feeding area aos at the Old Man producing only 25 chicks in the nearby up-Channel shipping lane. (0.17) and 82 aos at the Bay of Creekland Hopefully, a comprehensive study of this may rearing only 15 young (0.18). be carried out next year. and , however, had good Contributed by Jerry Saunders, Mark Atkinson, seasons for this species although exact Alastair Riley, Mike Roger and Afra Skene. productivity figures could not be calculated. e-mail: [email protected] 11

There was thus a very mixed picture for Fulmars produced 30 chicks to fledging, productivity from around Orkney with no apparent easy 0.45. Seven monitored aot on Hoy produced 11 explanation for this variation. chicks, productivity 1.57. Fledged or almost- fledged chicks were seen in almost all known Gannet breeding areas and anecdotal evidence suggested at least a moderately good breeding season The long-standing colony on Sule Stack was not throughout the isles, albeit from a much reduced counted but the two new colonies established in base. 2003 go from strength to strength. Great Skua On nearby Sule Skerry, there were 1000 aon, the Sule Skerry Ringing Group ringing over 300 The most closely monitored (sub) colony is at chicks and colour-ringing 100 adults. 14 of the Stourdale on Hoy. Chris Booth located 50 aot, adults handled had already been ringed on Sule only 44 having been found in 2008. However, Stack in 2003 and 2007, confirming the origins breeding success was poor, only 12 aot of birds in the colony. At Noup Head, Westray, remaining occupied by 20th July and only six the colony increased to 499 aon and at least 166 single chicks being located, there being no sign chicks reached near-fledging. of young in the other six territories. Even if all these chicks fledged, the maximum productivity Cormorant could only be 0.12.

On Boray Holm, 90 aon were counted and the Elsewhere on Hoy, Andrew Upton monitored 32 colony had an apparently productive season. aot in the Shell Hill and Mill Burn area; 17 chicks fledged, a productivity of 0.53. On The Hen of colony was deserted this Papay, there were 28 aot (20 in 2008) and they year, the birds perhaps having moved to Boray fledged 30 young, a productivity of 1.07. Holm or, perhaps more likely, to Little Linga, where 60 adults were counted from the ferry on It is unclear what is happening to our Bonxie 1st July. It is the first time that this island is population as it is some time since the colony on known to have been used by this species. On Hoy, with over 2000 pairs the second largest in the Little Green Holm there were 39 aon and it Britain after Foula, has been censussed. There is seemed to be a very late season there, 32 of 39 a pressing need for such a count to be nests still having eggs or naked chicks on 2nd undertaken. August. Black-headed Gull Shag The colony at Mill Dam, , often the On Sule Skerry, 200 chicks were ringed, a largest in Orkney, continued to decline with only marked improvement on 2007 when only four 130 adults present and all nests eventually pairs were present. This was, however, still well failing. Elsewhere, however, the species did down on the 800-1200 chicks ringed in the late well with considerable numbers of young being ‘80s/early ‘90s. Elsewhere, the only good fledged although there were few hard data. On productivity data came from , 34 pairs reared 33 chicks (0.97) per where five aon produced 11 young, 2.2 young pair, the best year for some time at this site. The per pair. Anecdotally, other sites such as largest colony this summer was at the Shapinsay, , and delightfully named Mires of Whip on Sanday Swona all had good numbers of young. where 600 adults were counted but there was no productivity data. Arctic Skua Common Gull This species had a much more successful season than of late but there were few really good This species experienced a good season with lots productivity data. The North Hill of Papa of young being reared in many colonies Westray held 66 aot (only 40 in 2008) and 12 although detailed breeding success monitoring is These five colonies are now holding only 30% not usually carried out on this species. of the nests that they held in 1986 or 22% of those that they held in the peak year of 1991. Success was not universal, however, with a colony of 160 adults at Stines Moss in the Breeding success at Mull Head was zero but at hills failing totally, perhaps as a result the other four sites varied from 0.57 to 0.66. In of predation by larger gulls species from a total, 335 monitored nests produced 212 young, nearby colony. Similarly, two colonies on Hoy productivity 0.63. fared badly with that at Whaness fledging only three chicks and that at Sandy Loch failing On Papa Westray, only 10 pairs nested in the altogether. Fowl Craig monitoring plots and no young were reared. Lesser Black-backed Gull On Rousay, a boat-based survey of the SSSI There was no productivity information for this cliffs gave a total of 882 aon compared to the species. 4900 pairs counted in the 1990s. 12 monitoring plots have been followed on these cliffs and this Herring Gull year only one of the 12 was occupied; 11 nests there reared six chicks, productivity 0.55. As The only productivity data came from recently as 2007, there were 73 aon that reared Ness where, on 16th June, Bob Adam located 54 35 chicks. nests and ringed 46 chicks. On Sule Skerry, a better year was experienced Great Black-backed Gull than on the last visit in 2007 but numbers ringed were 75% down on the heyday years. The once enormous colony at the Burn of Forse on Hoy, that used to have over 1000 pairs, held Common Tern only about 40 adults in July. Similarly, the Stourdale colony, once 600 pairs-strong, had The main colony on the old wooden pier at only 16 aon. These latter birds did, however, held up to 160 adults (11th June) and produce 10 chicks, productivity 0.63. fledged a minimum of 14 chicks (15th July).

The biggest colony was on Copinsay where Arctic Tern there were an estimated 250 pairs. At the Mull Head, , there appeared to be little It was a much better year for this species but it change from 2008 with 39 chicks being ringed was far from being a total success. on 24th June. On North Ronaldsay, 373 pairs nested but the Kittiwake majority failed. A late colony of 30-40 pairs at Nouster did, however, rear young. The decline of this species continues almost unabated although this year at least some young On Papa Westray, 667 pairs on the North Hill were reared and, indeed, some colonies had Reserve reared 227 chicks (productivity 0.34), reasonable success. the first to fledge here since 2002. Elsewhere on the island and the neighbouring Holm there were Monitored plots at five Mainland colonies 992 adults but no breeding success figures could showed the continuing downward trend that has be obtained. been apparent since 1988 with declines since 2006 ranging from 31% to 86%. Whole colony On neighbouring Westray, there were at least counts were also carried out at these sites and at 1000 adults; no productivity data were obtained Row Head, Costa Head, Mull Head and Gultak but young were certainly reared in some numbers fell in line with the plots. However, at colonies. Marwick Head, the whole colony decline was only 7.6% compared to 31.3% on the plot. 13

On Sanday, the colony at the Start held up to Hunda, there was a similarly productive picture 400 adults in two sub-colonies; at least 100 pairs with 350 adults on 18th June; 57 chicks were nested and produced c.150 young. However, a ringed on 28th June and a further 85 on 3rd July; colony of at least 50 pairs found by Bill Badger many fledged and near-fledged chicks were at Overbister failed perhaps as a result of seen. disturbance. On on 23rd June, there were colonies of On , there were two sub-colonies. One 80, 150 and 120 adults with some chicks and in the north of the island comprised early- lots of eggs. Swona was visited by the Orkney arriving birds and fledged ‘lots’ of chicks while Ringing Group on 5th July when 600 adults the other, near the , established itself were present in three sub-colonies; 76 chicks much later but still fledged young. were ringed and the colony was still ongoing on 31st July. On the Muckle Skerry, visited on the On Egilsay, 48 pairs bred. However, one colony same day, there were 400 adults and 31 chicks was trampled by sheep at the egg stage and the were ringed. On Hoy, a colony in the south of other was heavily predated; only six chicks the island held 163 adults on 15th July and 40 fledged. fledged chicks were seen; other colonies on the island fledged small numbers of young while On Gairsay, there were colonies of 460 and 220 others failed. adults with chicks fledging from both. Little Tern In the West Mainland, a colony at the traditional Yesnaby site held 80 adults but deserted, Although up to 13 adults were present at the possibly as a result of disturbance from a motor- regular south isles site, only four pairs are cross event. It was thought that it was these believed to have bred and no young are thought birds that moved a short distance north to Hyval to have been reared. where there were 65 on 4th July. However, this colony failed too. The well-known and very Guillemot viewable colony on the rock stacks at Skiba Geo, held 120 adults on 8th July by Numbers in the five JNCC monitored plots on which time some young had already fledged; 72 the Mainland have been declining since 2000. fledglings and chicks were counted here on 16th The 2006-2009 declines varied between 13% July. and 20% and were all statistically significant. Numbers at all the colonies (except Mull Head) In the East Mainland, a colony at Stembister are now at their lowest since monitoring began. held 450 adults on 7th June but a visit at the beginning of July revealed only one fledged However, breeding success was better this year chick, the rest of the colony having apparently than for some time. At Marwick Head, 116 aon failed. On nearby Copinsay, there was much produced 46 young (productivity 0.45) and at smaller colony (62 aon) than in 2008 but this Mull Head, 94 aon reared 48 young (0.51). year at least some young are known to have Interesting observations by Roddy Mavor fledged. indicated that Marwick was one-two weeks behind Mull in fledging even though chicks On Glims Holm, the main colony held 300 appeared to be at the same stage, this perhaps adults on 8th June and 26 chicks were ringed on being the result of poorer feeding at the former 26th June but the colony was deserted by 10th site. July. This colony was in a very open site and very vulnerable to predation. On Papa Westray, 281 aos were counted in the monitored plots and 152 chicks fledged, a On Burray, at the Hass, there were 500 adults on productivity of 0.54. 18th June and some chicks were three-quarters grown; 103 chicks were ringed. Fledged young On Sule Skerry, breeding success was noted as were seen on 3rd July and many more were near being much better than in 2007, there being fledging, a further 103 chicks being ringed. On much less predation as the increased number of 14 adults present gave more cohesion to the colony and greater protection from predators. However, 2009 IRISH BREEDING the numbers ringed were still only half the SEASON NEWS average July totals of the 1990s. The season started disappointingly with the Razorbill National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) failing to award a contract for the establishment At the five monitored colonies on the Mainland, of a national seabird surveillance programme. numbers fell in all plots. Marwick had been Thus, there was no balanced and comprehensive declining since 2000, Row and Gultak since coverage of species and geographical 2003 but at Costa and Mull Head, numbers had representativeness but the usual band of BWI actually been increasing until this year. The (Bird Watch Ireland) & NPWS ‘diehards’ still 2006-2009 declines varied from –5% to –34% got out there and coverage of Dublin and but only at Costa (-34%) and at Gultak (-30%) Wicklow was excellent. were they significant. Cliff-nesting species colony counts were On Papa Westray there were 59 aos in completed at the following sites: Rockabill, St. monitored lots from which 11 young fledged, a Patrick’s Island, Lambay, Ireland’s Eye (Dublin, productivity of only 0.19. Elsewhere, anecdotal partial for latter site)), Bray Head, Wicklow evidence also suggested that breeding success Head (both Wicklow), Great Skellig (Kerry, had not been as good as for Guillemot. diurnal species only), Downpatrick Head (Mayo, Kittiwake only). A full census of all species is Black Guillemot undertaken every 5 years on Lambay – 2009 was one such year. The April count around North Ronaldsay gave a total of 549 birds. Good breeding success was noted in the south-western part of the island but it was much poorer elsewhere.

A count around the North Hill, Papa Westray was undertaken on 13th May and revealed 234 adults compared to 205 in 2008.

Puffin

On Sule Skerry, possibly the biggest colony in Britain at present, there was no complete census but the impression was gained that there were perhaps fewer birds than in the mid-1990s. Over 1000 fledging chicks were ringed and they appeared to be fully grown and well fed Census time at Lambay compared to the early fledging of chicks in poor By H. Boland condition that was noted in 2007. More than 8000 adults were ringed and c.3000 recaptured. Wardening and monitoring of terns was more or less as usual with comprehensive coverage at Elsewhere, the species seemed to have a good Rockabill, Dublin Port, Dalkey Island, Kilcoole season, and many more birds than usual were and Lady’s Island Lake. The Louth Nature Trust noted, for example, at the well-visited Castle o’ also managed the Baltray Little Tern colony Burrian site on Westray and at Fowl Craig on (Co. Louth) and reported that a successful Papa Westray. season (numbers and productivity) was had (S. McKeever pers. comm.). Eric Meek, RSPB Scotland Area Manager e-mail: [email protected]

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Red-throated Diver Common Gull

Red-throats only nest in northwest Ireland in Co. Not a species normally associated with east Donegal. In 2009, birds were present at 8 of 12 coast colonies but a few have become historical breeding lakes. Nests were monitored established on the low lying west shores of at 6 of 7 active sites and three of these fledged 4 Lambay where 4 pairs now seem to be nesting young giving a productivity of 0.67. This is or holding territory. considered a good season for these birds at the extreme south end of their range. Lesser Black-backed Gull

Northern Fulmar An increase from 4 (2008) to 11 AOT/N on Ireland’s Eye but a decrease on Lambay from All nesting areas in Dublin were covered with 321 (2007) to 244 AOT/N. At Skellig 57 the exception of Ireland’s Eye. The main colony AOT/N recorded compared to 69 in 2007. is on Lambay and here there has been a worrying 47% decline over 5 years from 727 to Herring Gull 385 AOS. In Wicklow, Fulmars were stable at Bray Head (84 AOS) but there has been a 66% An Irish red-listed species but only two sizeable decline over 10 years at Wicklow Head, now a colonies were counted in 2009:the Lambay mere 21 AOS). Elsewhere, numbers relatively population having increased from311 AOT/N in stable at Great Skellig with 579 AOS this year. 2004 to 492 in 2007 has slumped back to 308. Ireland’s Eye has been more stable with 245 AOT/N in 2009.

The only colony with a full count was the ‘new’ Great Black-backed Gull one at Lambay. Here 187 AOS (up from 68 when the colony established in 2007) were The Lambay population has been stable since thought to have eggs or chicks. 2004 and presently sits at 154 AOT/N; there were also 68 AOT/N on St. Patrick’s. Great Cormorant Black-legged Kittiwake A total of 1706 AON at the three Dublin colonies, slight declines at all colonies but least Always the best monitored cliff-nesting species! at the largest, St. Patrick’s Island (922 AON). A modest increase (6%) was recorded at Mean clutch/brood sizes were: St. P 2.7 (n=793), Lambay since 2004, with 4216 AON in 2009; Lambay 3.1 (n=315), Irl Eye 2.7 (n=182). Good the population at Bray Head has more than news came from Bray Head, where summering doubled since 2004, with 1247 AON recorded in birds have looked like doing something for a 2009. A 22% decline on the Seabird 2000 long time – this year at least 27 AON were (1999) count was recorded at Wicklow Head present with eggs or chicks. (only 743 AON on 3 June 2009 – possibly the count was a little early). In the west the Great European Shag Skellig count of 501 was 41 less than the 2007 survey, while at Downpatrick Head 908 AON 43 AON at St. Patrick’s and 80 AON at were counted with a productivity of 0.42. Ireland’s Eye indicate stability but Lambay has Although the latter was low it was better than declined to 1081 AON from 1670 in 2007 expected earlier in the season, and it was uneven (35%), with some sub-colonies were more or across the colony with the subcolony on the less deserted. On the other hand, clutch/brood detached stack faring worst. Perhaps this is more sizes appeared normal especially on Lambay at vulnerable to marauding gulls and skuas? 2.6 (n=150), 1.7 (n=33) at St. P and 2.2 (n=50) Productivity was assessed at two east coast at Irl Eye. Small numbers nest at Bray and colonies: Rockabill fledged 0.87 per egg-laying Wicklow Heads; both have recorded slight pair (0.46 in 2008, the worst year on record) and increases to 27 and 17 AON respectively. Lambay 0.84 (much improved on 0.65 in 2007)

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Guillemot large contingent from Anglesey or elsewhere in the Irish Sea? The pair that nested on Rockabill An upward trend at all monitored east coast in 2006 and 2008 was not present this year! colonies: Lambay saw a 16% increase since 2004 to 67314 (IND), Bray Head doubled since Roseate Tern 2004 to 1184 and Wicklow Head rose to 699 (from 420 in 1999). Productivity was assessed An incredible year: the population topped ‘the on Lambay where 0.77 chicks fledged per pair GRAND’ on Rockabill where 1052 AON were compared to 0.74 in 2007. In the west, the Great counted; despite a miserable (wet & windy) Skellig colony was down a little 899 (IND) season clutch sizes were high and productivity compared to 998 in 2007. was calculated at 1.62 fledged per pair – a record high following hot on the heels of last year’s record low! This meant that in excess of 1500 young were fledged from the island. At Lady’s Island Lake 123 AON were recorded (at or about the previous maxima for this colony); unfortunately productivity was severely dented by a late season rat ‘infestation’ and the unwanted attention of a Short-eared Owl. A single pair laid at Dalkey but unfortunately the colony was wiped out by a combination of high seas and Herring Gull depredation of eggs.

Common Tern Guillemots which are thriving at Lambay by Steve Newton Continued growth at the two key Dublin colonies: Rockabill (1796 AON) and Port (391 Razorbill AON on 10 June), though the small Dalkey colony failed (see above). Productivity on Modest increases at all smaller monitored Rockabill appeared good at 1.68 young fledged colonies (Skellig, Bray & Wicklow Heads); on per pair based on a relatively sheltered study Lambay the population has increased by 12% area sample of 44 nests, though averaged over over 5 years to 6399 (IND). Productivity at the the whole colony it was probably somewhat latter was similar to previous estimates 0.76 lower especially in the more exposed areas. chicks fledged per pair (0.69 in 2007). Arctic Tern Black Guillemot A very high nest count of 345 AON on Comprehensive monitoring is only undertaken at Rockabill produced virtually no fledglings – Rockabill where 71 nests were located with a mostly attributable to weather and the attentions productivity of 1.13. of large gulls. This is the second year of failure at this site. About 36 pairs nested at Dublin Port and again productivity was likely to be low .

No systematic evening counts were done at any Little Tern colony including Lambay (85 IND seen on daytime auk counts) and wet/windy/foggy The ‘elements’ and a couple of Hedgehogs were conditions on Skellig prevented a count. the bane of the 2009 season at Kilcoole in County Wicklow. The breeding population was Sandwich Tern at least 41 pairs, laying 91 clutches and hatching 95 chicks. A Kestrel picked off quite a few well- At Lady’s Island Lake the colony continues to grown young and we estimated 1.44 were flourish with 1958 AON recorded in late May – fledged per pair. early June. It looks like we are still hosting a 17

Acknowledgements After much deliberation I decided on a date in late August when the chances of seeing a wide Many thanks to all the following for their counts selection of seabirds and cetaceans seemed high and help: Julie Roe, Kendrew Colhoun, Helen and weather conditions were likely to be good. Boland, Chick McNally, Dermot Murphy, Dave As the departure date approached I followed the Suddaby, Oscar & Cian Merne, Rachel Peelo, with some trepidation as it Alyn Walsh, Sarah Ingham, Lorraine Chivers, seemed as though our three days at sea were the Lambay Estate, the Manley family, Laura going to coincide with the tail end of tropical Glenister, Sarah Money, Kirsten Foley, Maggie storm Bill. However, as the group plus our two Hall, Megan Murgatroyd, David Daly, Chris Company of Whales guides assembled at Wilson, Richard Nairn, Derek McLoughlin, Portsmouth Ferry Terminal, the main concern Jessica Beaubier, the Red-throated Diver wasn’t the weather, but the fact the ferry hadn’t Steering Group, Ciaran & Jane O’Keeffe, David arrived due to a medical emergency as it left Tierney, Rachel Davies. Bilbao. The knock-on effect of this 3 hour delay in our sailing time was that on the outward part Financial assistance from NPWS and RSPB was of the trip we would only get to the deep waters much appreciated and Queen’s Belfast and in the northern part of the Bay of Biscay (where Leeds Universities supported student research at the chances of seeing the large whales are best), several sites. Wise counsel from Alan Lauder, late the following day. Our first morning at sea Head of Conservation at BWI, is much dawned grey with a brisk westerly wind - not appreciated. ideal viewing conditions for cetaceans but not a problem for seeing Northern Gannets of which Steve Newton there were large numbers. After breakfast there e-mail: [email protected] was a briefing about the wildlife we hoped to see and access to the viewing area above the bridge which is one of the perks enjoyed by SEABIRDING TRIPS groups travelling with the Company of Whales. The advantage of this location was soon COMPANY OF WHALES apparent providing us with an uninterrupted 360o view of the sea, although adjusting to Green 724 – not a colour ringed guillemot but being over 30 metres above the waves took a bit the first raffle ticket out of the hat at the Seabird of doing – that ‘small white bird’ turned out to Group Conference in Bruges last March - and be a Gannet!! Sightings of cetaceans in the the ticket I held in my hand! There were some English Channel and the waters off the Brittany excellent prizes – books, Belgian beverages, and coast are generally fairly scarce and sea cuddly toys but first choice was a no-brainer, it conditions weren’t in our favour either. had to be the trip across the Bay of Biscay with However, some excellent views of Sabine’s the specialist tour operator The Company of Gulls and Bonxies, and glimpses of Grey Whales. Phalaropes kept spirits up. Then as evening approached and we neared the Bay of Biscay, expectations heightened and patient watching through the day was rewarded by a quick succession of pods of Common Dolphins that homed in on our bow wave, criss-crossing in front of the ship, plus excellent views of small groups of Long-finned Pilot Whales.

We docked on time in Bilbao early the next morning and went ashore for a walk up into the hills above the port. The weather had improved – hot, sunny and little wind so we were impatient to get back to sea to take advantage of Common Dolphins these conditions but soaring Griffin Vultures and by Glen Overington Booted Eagles distracted the ornithologists and 18 there were lizards, butterflies or spiders for those plenty to keep us interested with a variety of with more general interests. The ferry left on the migrants perched on the railing and circling return leg just after midday and the harbour around the ship including Wheatear, House walls of Bilbao were densely packed with Martin, Chiffchaff, and ‘alba’ wagtail. Yellow-legged Gulls with a solitary European Shag at the end of one of the jetties. Just off Bilbao are deep water canyons where the Company of Whales brochure says the chances of encounters with beaked whales are ‘better than 50-50’!! The first ‘sighting’ turned out to be fishing net drifting below the surface – not what one wants to see in an area so rich in marine life and indeed the large amount of rubbish and patches of oil that we saw on the water at various points of the trip was deeply depressing. However, soon after this false alarm the first beaked whales were sighted and over the next few hours we saw 10 definite Cuvier’s Curvier’s Beaked Whale Beaked Whales plus another 6 beaked whales of by Glen Overington undetermined species but which might have included the rare Sowerby’s Beaked Whale. In Looking at species lists from other Company of addition there were big pods of Common and Whales trips (www.companyofwhales.co.uk) it Striped Dolphins, a small group of Bottle-nosed is clear that our sightings were by no means Dolphins, a couple more Long-finned Pilot exceptional – indeed we were unlucky not to see Whales, some big shoals of tuna (probably Sperm Whale and if conditions on the outward Yellow-fin) and then as evening approached the leg had been better, we should have had better sight that everyone had hoped for - a blow from views of Minke Whale than the brief glimpse I a big whale! In the end we saw 3 definite Fin alone had, and also seen Harbour Porpoise. The Whales plus a couple more large rorquals which trip following ours recorded bigger numbers and couldn’t be identified to species. Undoubtedly more species of shearwater and skua but that’s the cetaceans were the highlight of the day but part of the attraction – you don’t know what there were some memorable seabirds too with you’re going to see and where you’ll see it. good numbers of Cory’s Shearwaters, and small That’s why the hardest part of the trip is judging numbers of Great, Sooty and Manx Shearwaters. when to take 15 minutes off for a ‘comfort break’!! So my overall assessment would be an By next morning we were back into shallow excellent way to spend three days. Our guides waters off the Brittany coast heading towards were knowledgeable and pitched their comments the English Channel. Sea conditions were pretty at the appropriate level for each member of the good but sightings were limited to a couple of group which resulted in a really nice pods of Long-finned Pilot whales and a splash atmosphere. The range of marine habitats which turned out to be the fin of an Ocean covered is hugely impressive and although bad Sunfish!! Seabirds were also surprisingly scarce weather can potentially scupper things, that’s no but we did see Sooty and Balearic Shearwater, different to any other cruise I’ve been on. The European Storm-petrel, Northern Fulmar and big difference is that this is a commercial ferry numerous Gannets including some recently which isn’t normally going to change course if fledged juveniles that couldn’t fly – one you see something interesting – I did ponder narrowly escaped being mown down by the ship whether that ‘medical emergency’ was an and we were greatly relieved to see it pop up in excuse to spend more time in those productive our wake! For me the most bizarre sighting of waters off Bilbao – but as it was someone who’d the entire trip was undoubtedly a European Shag just gone into labour they probably weren’t that that we encountered almost 50 km off the north interested in whales! Brittany coast, flying determinedly along and showing no sign of heading to land. Although Sarah Wanless things were relatively quiet at sea there was still e-mail: [email protected] 19

SPECIAL OFFER TO SEABIRD During the Seabird 2000 census tape playback GROUP MEMBERS estimated 3,600 Apparently Occupied Sites (AOS) in Carn Mor, while the largest colony, on The Company of Whales will once again be the island of Dun, held nearly 27,700 AOS. running over 20 dedicated whale, dolphin and However, by 2003 the number on Dun had seabird-watching holidays across the Bay of fallen dramatically, to 14,400 AOS; a 2006 Biscay between June and October 2010. survey estimated 12,800 AOS. Therefore, there is good evidence for a substantial population Members of the Seabird Group are offered a decline On Dun, but we do not know if this has 10% discount off the price of the standard trip also occurred elsewhere on St Kilda, including (not including single supplements or cabin on Carn Mor. upgrades). For further information visit www.companyofwhales.co.uk or email Teams led by JNCC undertook initial mark- [email protected] or call 01950 recapture studies in 2004 and 2005, but in 2009 422483. a large team was assembled to revisit previously netted sites and increase the pool of ringed birds for subsequent recapture. A total of 347 Leach’s petrels was ringed in 2009, although the total SEABIRD GROUP GRANT would probably have been much greater had the conditions been less windy; in addition 30 REPORT previously ringed birds were captured. The analysis of the data so far collected is not yet ST KILDA complete but its success will ultimately hinge on the number of recaptures obtained, a function of Between 24th June and 3rd July 2009 I led, the number of bird ringed. along with 8 volunteers, a JNCC expedition to study Leach’s petrels and puffins on St Kilda, Scotland. Forming one of the UK’s largest seabird colonies the St Kilda archipelago supports around 680,000 breeding seabirds, including the World’s largest Northern gannet colony and, as far as we know, Europe’s largest colony of Leach’s petrels. It is also the UK’s most remote inhabited island, lying some 40 miles NW of Benbecula in the Western Isles.

The expedition had two key purposes: to continue a mark-recapture study of Leach’s petrels that started in 2004 and to obtain diet information from puffins provisioning their chicks. Fleyg netting We mist netted petrels at a huge boulder-field by Matt Parsons called Carn Mor, on the western edge of Hirta, the largest island in the St Kilda archipelago, Relatively little is known about the diet in recent using a mark-recapture method based on years of seabirds that breed on St Kilda, yet diet catching and ringing adults (presumably is of crucial importance in determining breeding breeders) flying in the colony and recording the success, itself a key demographic parameter. proportion of ringed birds in samples made at Notable exceptions include the observation in the same net rides in subsequent days and years. 2005 of inedible pipefish being brought back to The information obtained will hopefully provide puffin chicks, leading to their starvation in some estimates of population size and adult survival cases (Sarah Money, pers. comm.). rates. We sampled puffin chick diet using mist netting and fleyg netting to intercept provisioning adults

20 and collect the fish they drop. As relatively few samples are collected there is unlikely to be any JOB VACANCIES effect on breeding success. Our results were interesting; of the 51 samples obtained the vast The Norwegian Polar Institute is seeking a majority comprised a mixture of small rockling person that will be responsible for performing (Family: Lotidae) and small sandeels (Family: field-based research programmes in the Arctic Ammodytidae), with a few samples containing and the Antarctic. The successful applicant will one or two juvenile mackerel. Notably, the loads be responsible for the monitoring and were small, with a mean mass of apparently management of the institutes’ seabird complete loads a little over 4g. monitoring programs at Spitsbergen. The job includes: planning research programmes; writing grant applications to help support the work financially; conducting the research in the field; analyzing the resulting data; reporting the results to the Institute’s seabird data-bases; and doing basic reporting and administration of the research programme(s). The job also includes providing input and advice in environmental management processes. Research activities are expected to result in an active publication record in journals of high international quality

Potential candidates must have a PhD with a background in seabird population biology and ecology. Expertise in statistical analyses, the ability to publish in high-quality international scientific journals and the ability to secure research grants must be documented. An ability and willingness to work in multidisciplinary research groups and practical experience from field-related research programmes are important qualifications.

Ringing Puffins! The salary will commensurate with the by Matt Parsons qualifications of the successful candidate, according to the Norwegian State salary code As in the previous few years, no pipefish were 1109 - 1183, scale 57 – 68 (NOK 435.500 – found. Whether such small food loads 533.300). The work place is the Norwegian represented sufficient nutrition for puffin chicks Polar Institute in Tromsø, Norway, with the is unknown, though the long term dataset possibility for extended periods of placement at collected on the Isle of May in eastern Scotland the NPI office in Longyearbyen on Svalbard. by Centre for Ecology and Hydrology suggests The position is open, and the successful that the St Kilda puffin loads were unusually candidate should be able to start as soon as small. Unfortunately, no measure of breeding possible. success was possible on St Kilda this year. Further inquiries about the position may be Thanks to the Seabird Group for financial directed to Research Director Kim Holmén, e- assistance and to National Trust for Scotland for mail: [email protected], phone: +47 77 75 logistical support. 05 30, of Head of Biodiversity Section, Kit Kovacs, e-mail: [email protected], phone: Matt Parsons, JNCC. +47 77 75 05 26. [email protected] The application deadline is 31 October 2009.

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FOR SALE CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENTS SEABIRD GROUP BULLETINS 1 - 7 FIRST WORLD SEABIRD CONFERENCE Seabirds: Linking the Global Oceans September 7 - 11, 2010 Victoria Conference Centre Victoria, Canada

Are you interested in seabird management and conservation? Then join us for the 1st World Seabird conference! The Pacific Seabird Group, with partnering support from over 25 professional seabird and research organisations, from around the world is hosting the first world Historically interesting publications up for grabs! conference to focus specifically on seabirds. Through a strong conference program, the goal These foolscap-size Bulletins were produced by of this Conference is to put seabird management the Group from 1965 to 1969. Each is around 50 and conservation into a worldwide perspective. - 70 pages, and had a cover price of 10 shillings! By bringing 500 - 600 participants from over 30 For sale for £25 (including postage), to raise countries together, we will be able to money for the North Wales Breeding Bird Atlas. comprehensively address the global issues and data needs for these species, most of which For further information, contact inhabit multiple countries and waters within [email protected] their own ranges.

Conference Information

• Call for Papers – October, 2009 • Registration Opens – January, 2010 • Sponsorship Opportunities Available!

For more information, or to subscribe to our growing conference community, please visit: www.WorldSeabirdConference.com.

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‘Handbook of the Birds of the World’ (HBW) CORRECTION (lynx) website, finding that the Magellanic are Common Diving Petrels.. so the confusion In The Seabird Group Newsletter, No. 98, of maybe somehow generalised”. October 2004’, page 9 and 10, I wrote a short article, titled ‘Note on Wing Measurements and I would therefore like to formally correct my Weights of Magellanic article in The Seabird Group Newsletter, No. 98, (Pelecanoides magellani)’. This article related to of October 2004’, page 9 and 10, to ‘Note on the finding of 29 Diving Petrels, originally Wing Measurements and Weights of Common identified as Magellanic Diving Petrel Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides urinatrix berard). (Pelecanoides magellani), on board the M.V. An interesting anecdote from this is that Marco Polo cruise ship, in the Chilean Fjords in according to the Chilean sources Pelecanoides January 2004. At that time I identified these urinatrix berard had not been previously birds as Magellanic Diving Petrels and wing and recorded in Southern Chile – so there is still weight measurements were taken prior to their plenty more work yet to be completed. release. A comment was made that due to the time of the year these birds were probably all Christopher J Wilson first year non-breeding birds. These birds had Environmental Consultant, Wexford, Ireland been identified using the guidelines published in e-mail: [email protected] ‘Seabirds an Identification Guide’, Harrison, P. (1983). A number of other references were also used. SEABIRD GROUP NEWS

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEXT SEABIRD GROUP AGM

SCOTTISH RINGERS CONFERENCE FIFE ARMS HOTEL, BRAEMAR 14 NOVEMBER 3PM

DRAFT AGENDA

1. Minutes of the 43rd AGM

Common Diving Petrel by Chris Wilson 2. Matters arising from the minutes

Very recently I was in communication with 3. The 44th Annual and Treasurers report Christian Savigny (working on Birds of the SW Atlantic Ocean & Antarctica) and who had 4. Update on Seabird appealed by way of a Seabird Group Circular for photographs of Magellanic Diving Petrel – I 5. The next Seabird Group conference therefore sent him photographs. To cut a long story short and with help from Mark Pearman 6. Update on World Seabird Conference (author of Birds of Argentina, checklist, etc), Alvaro Jaramillo (Author of Birds of Chile) and 7. Membership and subscriptions Ricardo Matus, who lives in Punta Arenas and has extensive experience of these species, 8. AOB Christian confirmed that the birds mentioned in The Seabird Group Newsletter, No. 98, of October 2004 were in fact Common Diving Petrel - Pelecanoides urinatrix berard. Christian went on to say that he had “checked also the 23

CURRENT SEABIRD GROUP EDITORIAL COMMITTEE We are always looking for new Current retiral dates (at AGM) are contributors for the newsletter. If shown in bold after the name of you have any ideas for articles each member. Nominations then please get in touch with (which should be submitted to the either Liz or Claire (for contact Secretary) from members for details see under the Current replacements on the committee Seabird Committee). We aim to Registered charity No. 260907 are always welcome. cover as wide a range of topics as possible so we would urge our The Seabird Group Chairman members not to be shy! c/o BTO Norman Ratcliffe (2011) The Nunnery c/o British Antarctic Survey, High Submissions for the newsletter Thetford Cross, Madingley Road must be in electronic format, Norfolk IP24 2PU Cambridge, CB3 0ET preferably in word and should be England, UK. [email protected] no more than 1500 words wherever possible. Email: Secretary [email protected] Linda Wilson (2012) Every effort is made to check the Website: JNCC, Aberdeen content of the material that we www.seabirdgroup.org.uk [email protected] publish. It is not, however, always Seabird Group Forum : possible to check http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/gr Treasurer comprehensively every piece of oup/seabirdgroupforum/ Andrew Ramsay (2010) information back to its original Lower Courthill, By Tain, source, as well as keeping news The Newsletter is published three Ross-shire, IV19 1NE timely. Please will readers make times a year. The editor [email protected] further checks at their own welcomes articles from members discretion, if they have concerns and others on issues relating to Seabird Editor about any of the information or seabird research and Martin Heubeck (2011) contacts provided, and contact me conservation. These should be Sumburgh Lighthouse, Virkie, to allow feedback to other readers received by 15th May (for June Shetland ZE3 9JN. if necessary. edition), 15th September (for [email protected] th October edition) or 15 January We also try to provide a forum for (for February edition). Seabird Publishing Editor readers’ views, so that those Andy Webb (2012) provided in the Newsletter are not The Seabird Group promotes and necessarily those of the editor or helps co-ordinate the study and Seabird Group Newsletter the Seabird Group. conservation of seabirds. Editor Members also receive the journal Liz Humphreys (2010) Seabird. The Group organises BTO Scotland, University of regular conferences and provides Stirling, Stirling. FK9 4LA small grants towards seabird [email protected] research. Current membership rates are: Seabird Group Newsletter Assistant Editor Standing Order £9.00 Claire Smith (2010) Concession £5.00 [email protected] Institution £15.00 Ordinary £10.00 Membership Secretary (2012) seabirdgroup.membership@gmail .com Ilka Win 121 Polmuir Road Aberdeen, AB11 7SJ

Other Members: Simon Foster (2010)

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